Managed Pressure Drilling

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Feasibility Study

Are you drilling an HPHT well, operating in a narrow window within the reservoir, or have wellbore stability challenges which require more finesse than drilling with a simple mud weight for the duration of a section? These sorts of challenges may highlight the need for a managed pressure drilling solution in order to mitigate risk and enable you to reliably achieve your well’s objectives. Merlin applies a back-to-basics engineering approach to help you decide if MPD is required to make drilling a particular well feasible.

DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT

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Well Design

MPD comes with its own unique set of challenges and considerations. It also comes with an opportunity to start doing things in a different way. Perhaps you can push a shoe deeper, shorten a high risk section, or remove a casing string altogether if the subsurface environment is right. Merlin can help you create wells which harness the capability of managed pressure drilling, taking advantage of this enabling technology to reduce risks and costs.

DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT

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Contracting

If you know you need MPD but are not sure exactly what the operating model is going to look like, give Merlin a call. There are many ways to manage a spread, whether it’s hired directly by the operating company or via a third party contractor (e.g. the rig), Merlin can advise on the most appropriate way to contract the equipment to ensure that your risks are covered, whichever side of the bench you sit on.

DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT

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Equipment Spec

You have a feasibility analysis in place and a well design which relies on managed pressure drilling – what next? Do you know what equipment you need? Do you feel like the advice you are getting is completely unbiased? Does it consider the needs of the well, rather than what’s available locally or what’s easily to hand? When the rig says it’s MPD ready, what does that mean? Merlin’s expertise and experience can help you define a solution which is fit-for-purpose with the minimum of cost and complexity.

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HAZOP, HAZID and Risk Assessments

If you are looking for independent participation in a HAZOP, HAZID or risk assessment workshop, Merlin can help. Merlin's people have designed, constructed and operated wells and MPD spreads all over the world, from desert land rigs to deepwater semi-subs. Merlin deeply understands the risks and mitigating factors associated with the use of this equipment along with the questions which often don’t get asked (but should) in these forums. Allow Merlin to support your occupational safety process and improve your delivery reliability.

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Procedures

Mechanical design and operational procedures go hand-in-hand when it comes to assuring reliable well delivery with an MPD spread on location. Merlin can support the development of tried and tested procedures based on international best practice for all types of managed pressure drilling operations, ensuring that your well starts as far up the learning curve as possible.

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FEED

Merlin can assist at all stages in the process of defining whether your well or project is a suitable candidate for MPD. During FEED, Merlin supports rig surveys, P&ID development, interface planning, equipment preparation, testing & certification requirements, regardless of your operating environment. Merlin can assist with all of the steps required to transform your location into something fit for the purpose of executing your MPD well successfully.

DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT

Merlin Tools

AV Calculator

Annular Velocity (AV) is one of the “Three Pillars” of effective hole cleaning in high-angle wellbores, with the other two being pipe rotation and the low-end rheology of the drilling fluid.

Stuck Pipe Tool

Description about stuck pipe tool goes here.

Managed Pressure Drilling Quiz

Test your knowledge on managed pressure drilling

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Operations

Execution is make-or-break time. Effort and energy expended during planning needs to be harnessed and directed to assure operational success. Merlin can support your field operations with people that have real expertise and experience, and have the know-how and energy to drive success within your team.

Training

Better trained people make better decisions. It is really that simple. If the plan is pushing the team out of their comfort zone, time in the classroom learning about the fundamentals and talking through critical success factors will improve reliability of well delivery.

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Engineering: Managed Pressure Drilling

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AV Calculator

Stuck Pipe Tool

Managed Pressure Drilling Quiz

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Operations

Training